Background & Research Interests: Rafael earned a BS degree from Universidad do los Andes in Colombia. He is interested in the evolutionary biology, systematics and taxonomy of Neotropical Orchids. “My dissertation research focuses on the orchid genus Mormolyca. My research couples molecular phylogenetic data with floral morphology and volatiles to assess the role of evolving flower …
Background & Research Interests: Deniz has a broad background in Botany, and is supported by the government of Turkey, her home country, to attend graduate school in the USA. She is interested in using gene sequence data for phylogenetic systematics and applications such as DNA barcoding, and was one of the first members of our lab …
Dissertation: “Trophic mode evolution in orchids: Integrating regional isotope, fungal, and genomic approaches.” Defended summer 2025.
Research Interests: Alfonso graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. He is primarily interested in nomenclature, systematics, and pollination biology of the Neotropical orchid subtribe Pleurothallidinae. His work relies on molecular and ecological data to test taxonomic systems and character significance used in taxon circumscription with an aim of exploring how species as taxa vs. …
Background & Research Interests: Giovanny is a Colombian orchidologist from Bogota. He has conducted extensive fieldwork throughout the Neotropics, and described several new species of orchid. His research is focused on taxonomy and systematics of the vanilloid genus Epistephium, which is a close relative to Vanilla – the only orchid of significant agricultural value. Giovanny’s research is supported by …
Background & Research Interests: Kelsey is a Michigander with a BS degree from Northern Michigan Univ in the Upper Peninsula. She escaped the cold winters by conducting fieldwork in the high Andes of Ecuador (she is fluent in Spanish), and fell in love with the diversity of pleurothallid orchids native to that part of the …
Research topic: Systematics of New Guinea Rhododendron (Ericaceae)
Background & Research Interests: James graduated from Lynchburg College (Virginia) and came to Madison with an interest in floral fragrance, pollination biology, and orchid systematics. He has made several trips to Ecuador where he is studying the kinematics of rapid floral snap-traps in the Andean orchid genus Porroglossum. James’ research is grounded in a molecular phylogenetic …
Background & Research Interests: Grant is especially interested in the germination of North American orchid seeds, and the role of fungi in orchid seed germination. He hopes that his research will allow for the propagation and reintroduction of endangered orchids back into the wild. He was a student and lecturer at Illinois College for several years, and …
Background & Research Interests: A graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Matthew is interested in phylogenetic systematics, population genetics, and biogeography of Spiranthes, a genus of primarily North American orchids. “I am addressing problematic species complexes, and investigating how this genus spread across the globe. Additionally, I’m examining the relationship between distribution, pollinators, and genetic diversity. …